Reflections

“So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.” – Philemon 1:17 Here is a letter from Paul, who is now old and in prison. To Philemon, Paul's dear friend and co-worker in the early church, and to the church who gathered in his home, about...

STANDING STRONG IN THE EMPTY TOMB’S TRUTH by Hugh Farquhar  The Lectionary Gospel Reading for this Easter Sunday is John 20:1-20. The daughter of a university professor suddenly fell ill and died. She was a gifted artist, had just been married, and was looking forward...

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit." - Titus 3:4,5 I notice the word...

DRY BONES DAYS by Hugh Farquhar The Psalm chosen by the designers of the Lectionary for this Sunday, Palm/Passion Sunday, is Psalm 31:9-16. For reasons I cannot explain, I found myself focusing on verse 10: “My strength fails me . . . my bones are wasted away.” This...

AS MUCH AS IN ALL RICHES by Hugh Farquhar The Psalm placed in the Lectionary for next Sunday as an alternate Reading is Psalm 119:9-16. I lock on verses 12-14: “I will delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and...

"I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you." - 2 Timothy 1:5 What might Timothy write of the gift he received from his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois? Let’s...

"I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent" - 1 Timothy 2:15 I suppose I could leave this page blank to honour the sentiment of this teaching. Or not! I was first introduced to this verse of scripture between the stacks in the...

THE POLE AND THE CROSS by Hugh Farquhar This Sunday’s Old Testament Reading for the Fourth Sunday in Lent is Numbers 21:4-9. I always wonder what people hear when this passage is read from the Book of Numbers without comment. As a story, it is what a friend of mine...

"So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.: - 2 Thessalonians 2:15 I stood facing into the wind, it's fierceness nearly sweeping me off my feet. It seemed...

GENTLE JESUS, MEEK AND MILD - NOT by Hugh Farquhar The Gospel Reading for next Sunday in the Lectionary is John 2:13-22 We can hardly imagine the noise and confusion in the Jerusalem Temple that day: sheep bleating, cows mooing, birds chirping, metal pieces clanging...

DENY, TAKE UP, FOLLOW by Hugh Farquhar  The Lectionary Gospel Reading for next Sunday is Mark 8:31-38. At some point in time, I jotted down in my notebook these words of sarcasm by the essayist, Wilbur Rees, “I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please, not enough to...

"Pray without ceasing," - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Sitting between "rejoicing always" and "give thanks in all circumstances in this early church Letter," Paul urges "pray without ceasing." This is a teaching that has long fascinated me. In my younger years, I thought it...

I CHOOSE JOY FOR LENT by Hugh Farquhar The Lectionary Gospel Reading (Revised Common Lectionary) for next Sunday, the first in Lent, is Mark 1:9-15 which includes the baptism, temptation, and mission of Jesus. My eyes fixed on verse 15: “Now after John was arrested,...

"Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and...

THE VISION AND THE VALLEY By Hugh Farquhar  The Lectionary Gospel Reading for next Sunday is Mark 9:2-9. I make a point of teaching my students at Atlantic School of Theology always to consider the context of a passage of Scripture. It’s important to note what...

"Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Philippians 4:8 There is...

WALK, RUN, SOAR By Hugh Farquhar  The Old Testament Reading from the Revised Common Lectionary next Sunday is Isaiah 40:21-31. When my wife Dorothy died in 1994, I needed to choose the Scriptures I wanted to have read at her funeral. As a student of the Scriptures...

"I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit,  and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.  I pray that you may...